​Beverage News from India & the World

Mumbai, India
One of Rhone Valley France's most iconic brands Chapoutier is now back in India after an insignificant first attempt. M. Chapoutier has been producing iconic wines from Rhône Valley since 1808 and holds the title for the most awarded wine maker and the record for a 100 point rating from Robert Parker 33 times with top ratings from all other major wine critics. They were most recently awarded the first “World’s Most Admired French Wine Brand” by Drinks International Report 2018.

Michel Chapoutier, a true visionary with a deep understanding of the terroir cultivates and harvests the vineyards organically and biodynamically to ensure the wines are the truest expression of the region. The first to introduce braille on their wine labels, this unique feature continues to distinguish their brand from other wines on the shelf. Their passion for wine making and the pride they carry for the Rhone Valley region have been recognised the world over.  M. Chapoutier is the preferred French wine brand for worldwide travel retail and airlines like Air France, Emirates, Etihad and Air India to name a few.  Today, M. Chapoutier also has vineyards in Australia, Portugal and Spain and exports to over 130 countries around the world. India is the latest addition to their growing global presence.  
"Our vision is to offer new trends and the finest selection of Wine & Spirit brands to our discerning consumers across the Indian sub-continent. M. Chapoutier is an iconic and top awarded wine producer from France and we are thrilled to bring this historic brand to the Indian market. I do believe the majority of the popular grapes from the Rhône Valley region especially Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache Blanc and Viognier offer a great affinity to Indian cuisine. We are confident that the quality and variety of our M. Chapoutier selection will find acceptance and appreciation from the wine lovers in India.” said Sumedh Singh Mandla (CEO – VBev) 

Edouard Payot the  Export Director of the brand who flew in for the occasion to introduce the portfolio to the Indian audience seemed positive and said,  “Maison Chapoutier is very excited to start working with VBev for the Indian market and to launch our famous Rhône Valley wines in the market. India is a fast-growing and developing country with more and more wine being imported every year and we sincerely hope to convince the Indian consumers with our terroir-driven and elegant wines. It’s a priority of development for the group Chapoutier and we’re confident that we’ll find our place in this competitive market due to the professionalism of our new partner and the indisputable quality of our wines.” says Edouard Payot  

Following wines were Showcased:
Le Bernardine Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2015
Les Meysonniers Crozes Hermitage 2016
Bila-Haut Cotes Du Roussillion Villages 2017 - MRP 2190
Belleruche, Cotes Du Rhone , Blanc and Rouge - MRP 2590
( Excerpt from a release) 

 Mumbai, India
Taj Lands End, Mumbai added yet another jewel in its repertoire of culinary offerings with the re-launch of the Atrium Lounge in a brand new avatar. The launch  marked by a grand event that witnessed the magnificent revival of this exceptional offering and evolved into a soiree with Mumbai’s crème de la crème, celebrating. Gracing the event was Mr. Puneet Chhatwal – Managing Director & CEO, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), along with other eminent personalities such as Brian Lara, Mukesh Bhatt, Talat and Bina Aziz, Nisha JamVwal and celebrated personalities including Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi, Dino Morea, Isha Koppikar, Suchitra Pillai-Malik, Kim Sharma, Harshvardhan Rane and Neha Sharma.
Located at the heart of the hotel, the effervescent Atrium Bar & Lounge offers a welcoming retreat from the bustling city life. With a wide selection of first flush teas and single origin coffees along with the signature smoothies, the Atrium Bar & Lounge offers every reason to sit back and relax while the sun sets over Bandra’s charming seascape. For aficionados, eager to experience the finest, Atrium offers the largest selection of whiskeys and spirits from across the world accompanied by iconic concoctions distinctive to the Golden Age. Reminiscent of Mumbai’s dynamic culture, the Atrium Bar & Lounge invites guests to experience the city on their plates. From aromatic street-food to the suave palate of world-cuisine, the menu boasts of a distinct mélange of local and international flavours.
The evening came alive to the sound of music and displayed magical performances by renowned artists like Manasi Scott and Keya Pothen coupled with a euphoric camaraderie of the subtle notes of violin and cello. Commenting on the momentous occasion, Mr. Parveen Chander Kumar, Area Director – West and General Manager – Taj Lands End said, “We are delighted to reintroduce our signature bar & lounge, known for its tranquil ambience and delectable culinary experiences. The new avatar encompasses a truly sensational experience in terms of service, décor and flavours. We look forward to our guests partaking in this brand new journey of the Atrium Bar & Lounge .” ( Excerpt from a press release)

Mumbai,India
Helmed by Gargi Kothari, Rojita Tiwari and Ruchika Agarwal D’souza; Agents of Cheer is India’s only curated Drinks Festival, which provides an opportunity to wine and spirits enthusiasts to taste, explore and savour the world of drinks in a fun and intimate way. The festival has been conceptualized and curated with the objective of offering drink lovers an experience that is unique, exciting and entertaining.

The first in the series, Agents of Cheer Vol 1 was held in  January 2018 and was a resounding success. The appreciation sessions on wines and spirits, conducted by their expert team members offered the perfect opportunity to learn many intrinsic aspects of both the drinks. The walk-around tastings (40 premium wines and spirits) offered a perfect set-up for the guests to mingle around and savour a wide variety of handpicked wines and spirits while enjoying a live-band performance. Artisanal cheeses, cigars and, art showcases added an extra oomph to the overall experience.

With the promise and vision to make Agents of Cheer the most unique, informative and fun event for the discerning consumers and trade, Agents of Cheer Vol 2 washeld on 6th October 2018  at the beautiful setting of Mabruk and Oceans in Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai. The event entailed two in-depth appreciation sessions followed by a walk-around tasting. The appreciation session - Understanding Specific Origin Wines - will be conducted by Gargi Kothari, a wine geek and the founder of Magic Cellars, a company that curates wine experiences. The Spirits Studio session - Learning To Appreciate Gin - will be conducted by Rojita Tiwari, India’s leading beverage professional, wine & spirits journalist and founder of Drinks and Destinations.

The Spirits Studio saw premium brands from Bacardi India’s portfolio along with a new spirits category, a Chinese spirit - Baijiu brand called Jiangxiaobai which has entered India and was presented to the consumers for the first time. Baijiu means “white alcohol” with a strong flavour, which is distilled from fermented sorghum.

A classy affair had  live music performances, stalls showcasing fashion accessories, apparel, works of art, and a delicious line up of appetizers and bar bites as a perfect accompaniment to the wines and spirits. 
( Excerpt from a release)